UFC strawweight Amanda Ribas recently shared details about her unexpected training session with popular bodybuilder Julio Balestrin, which left him sporting an unplanned black eye.
The Brazilian mixed martial artist recounted the friendly encounter with the 46-year-old, 6-foot-3 bodybuilder who weighs approximately 250 pounds in competition.
“We decided to (do) some videos, but [Balestrin] is very competitive, and so am I,” Ribas laughed. “He kept teasing me when cameras were off, saying I was taking the bait [laughs].”
Ribas, who competes in both the 115 and 125-pound divisions in the UFC, offered to teach Balestrin some MMA techniques and inquired about his grappling experience.
“He’s so strong. My goodness, he’s so, so strong,” Ribas said in an interview. “When you’re that strong and you roll, your weight… He fell on his face and had a black eye, poor guy. But he’s so strong, man. That was survival mode, almost. If he decides to grab me there… I just went for it.”
The encounter, which was captured on video, showed Ribas patiently instructing Balestrin on proper stance, striking technique, and movement. Despite his impressive physique, the bodybuilder found himself challenged by the basic techniques demonstrated by the professional martial artist.
“This woman is incredible,” Balestrin later commented while sporting his bruised eye. “She put me to the test and showed that strength is only 10% of what it takes to be a champion in this sport.”
Ribas, currently ranked No. 9 in the strawweight division with a 13-5 record, is preparing for her upcoming rematch against Mackenzie Dern at UFC Tampa on January 12th, 2025, at the Amalie Arena in Florida.
Brazilian mixed martial artist Amanda Ribas is laser-focused on improving her takedown defense as she prepares to face Mackenzie Dern in an anticipated UFC rematch. After their first encounter in 2019, where Ribas secured a victory, she understands the critical importance of neutralizing Dern’s ground game.
In a recent podcast interview, Ribas revealed her comprehensive approach to preparing for potential takedown attempts.
“The best defense is offense,” she explained, highlighting her strategy of not just defending takedowns but actively working to prevent them.
Statistically, Dern has historically struggled with takedown accuracy, landing only 16% throughout her UFC career. This data provides additional confidence for Ribas, who has been meticulously training both defensive and offensive takedown techniques.
“I’m training a lot on defensive takedowns, offensive takedowns,” Ribas shared. “Because I know she is getting faster and stronger.”
